Dental cost of braces

red

Hi everyone,
I wonder if anyone has any advice...

I am having my teeth straightened (with invisalign) and at the end of the treatment, the dentist has advised he recommends braces are used for around 6 months to make sure the teeth do not revert back to their original position. The cost of the brace he has quoted as nearly £600. I wonder, could anyone let me know if this price sounds normal (I am in London)...I am not sure if it is possible to go to the lab that does the work directly?

brook2jack

£600 is very cheap for invisalign. The laboratory used is in America for this system so going direct would not be a saving!!!! They charge enormous amounts for the retainers(much more than £600) so that's why I'm so surprised at the price.

Rereading your post do you mean the cost of the retainer brace only is £600? There is no way you could have this constructed at the lab yourself.... you don't know the prescription, the type of retainer needed,you couldn't fit it and the lab would be breaking the law by supplying you with a device etc and presumably this cost also includes the dentists time as they will want to review you. Also some retainers are permanently cemented onto the teeth as many orthodontists now advise longer term or permanent retention.

If you are happy with the other aspects of treatment, and considering how important it is to have good retention afterwards , then you wil have to accept the cost of retention.

GlasweJen

I think the OP has finished invisalign treatment and has been quoted £600 for a traintrack to maintain the straight-ness (can't think of another word).

Toothsmith

The only way to ensure they stay where they are at the end of treatment is permanent retention. (By bonding a wire to the back of your teeth - like Prince William has)

6 months will certainly let the bone stabalise, but there will always be a little bit of relapse once you stop wearing it.

red

Thank-you GlasweJen and Toothsmith...do you think the price I have been quote (£585) is the in the right region?

brook2jack

Unfortunately we don't know the type or types of retainer you will be wearing and whether that charge includes review appointments and possible cementing of permanent retainers.

You can eg fit simple "gum shield " type retainers and so £585 would be extremely expensive. You can fit technician fabricated retainers with metal clasps, have a few review appointments and then fit permanent retainers to the back of some of the teeth and then the cost is more reasonable. The problem is if you have already embarked on treatment you will not get an orthodontist to take over treatment just to do retention as different dentists work in different ways. Also you cannot get a lab to make you a retainer without a dentists prescription.